It is near

[RandyPNW]

The Kingdom is near. The Bible speaks of the impact of God's heavenly Kingdom today, and even always. But it does not say that the eschatological Kingdom is already realized. By definition it comes in the Eschaton, and not before.

And so, the Kingdom is a process, the steps of which make an impact on our world today, even before it arrives in the eschatological sense.

What did Jesus mean when he said God's Kingdom was "near?" Albert Schweitzer thought Jesus was mistaken. Others have thought the same.

What Jesus actually meant is that he was the King of this coming Kingdom, and his presence was the initial step in preparing for the eschatological Kingdom to come.

If Jesus was near in proximity to his people, being present with them on earth, then in a sense the Kingdom itself, spiritually, was near them. And he made another "hour" click off the clock in preparation for his final Coming, since his earthly work prepared the way for it to come.

The Gospel is an advance warning, providing the warning of an almost imminent event. In fact, Christ's 1st Coming means that we already have a choice to make, once we've heard that message. It in that sense makes the coming of the Kingdom near to every one of us.

The main point here is that since Jesus brought the Kingdom "near" in his 1st Coming, his work of redemption has brought his Spirit near to all of us when the Gospel is preached to us as an advance warning. When he came he brought his Spirit with him. And when he left, he left his Spirit with the Church. Jesus in that sense remains "near" to us. And it renders his judgment "near" to all of us.

We are all "near" the judgment. We have an immediate need to respond to the message and to deliver the message. That's what we should be doing.

 

[keras]

Ezekiel 12:21-28 A proverb- “Days pass and visions perish”. The Lord will put an end to this proverb, instead it will be said: The Days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. There will be no more false prophecies among the Israelites, for what I, the Lord, says, will be done. For it will be in your days, in your lifetime, you rebellious people, that I shall carry out all that I decree.

Ezekiel 12:25 is most interesting, as it means that in the days that Judah is in possession of the Land, within a lifetime, that is 70- 80 years from 1948 that the Lord will carry out what He has decreed. As Jesus said in Matthew 24:32-34,.... the generation present who sees Judah living again in part of the Holy Land.

 

[Firstlightdawn]

The Kingdom is near. The Bible speaks of the impact of God's heavenly Kingdom today, and even always. But it does not say that the eschatological Kingdom is already realized. By definition it comes in the Eschaton, and not before.

And so, the Kingdom is a process, the steps of which make an impact on our world today, even before it arrives in the eschatological sense.

What did Jesus mean when he said God's Kingdom was "near?" Albert Schweitzer thought Jesus was mistaken. Others have thought the same.

What Jesus actually meant is that he was the King of this coming Kingdom, and his presence was the initial step in preparing for the eschatological Kingdom to come.

If Jesus was near in proximity to his people, being present with them on earth, then in a sense the Kingdom itself, spiritually, was near them. And he made another "hour" click off the clock in preparation for his final Coming, since his earthly work prepared the way for it to come.

The Gospel is an advance warning, providing the warning of an almost imminent event. In fact, Christ's 1st Coming means that we already have a choice to make, once we've heard that message. It in that sense makes the coming of the Kingdom near to every one of us.

The main point here is that since Jesus brought the Kingdom "near" in his 1st Coming, his work of redemption has brought his Spirit near to all of us when the Gospel is preached to us as an advance warning. When he came he brought his Spirit with him. And when he left, he left his Spirit with the Church. Jesus in that sense remains "near" to us. And it renders his judgment "near" to all of us.

We are all "near" the judgment. We have an immediate need to respond to the message and to deliver the message. That's what we should be doing.

And so, the Kingdom is a process. Its steps already make an impact on our world today, even before it arrives in the full eschatological sense. Wherever justice replaces exploitation, wherever truth replaces payola, and wherever people are treated with dignity instead of being used, we see the early signs of that Kingdom. My comments aren’t about being pro‑ or anti‑any leader. They’re about the difference between exploitation and justice, and about how God’s Kingdom ultimately removes every system built on corruption.”

 

[RandyPNW]

And so, the Kingdom is a process. Its steps already make an impact on our world today, even before it arrives in the full eschatological sense. Wherever justice replaces exploitation, wherever truth replaces payola, and wherever people are treated with dignity instead of being used, we see the early signs of that Kingdom. My comments aren’t about being pro‑ or anti‑any leader. They’re about the difference between exploitation and justice, and about how God’s Kingdom ultimately removes every system built on corruption.”

Yes, ungodly political leaders are given space to present their views and their sins. The people are complicit in the sin.

However, the truth is still marching on, with a lot of good things being done by good people. There's still hope!

 

[Jan001]

The Kingdom is near. The Bible speaks of the impact of God's heavenly Kingdom today, and even always. But it does not say that the eschatological Kingdom is already realized. By definition it comes in the Eschaton, and not before.

And so, the Kingdom is a process, the steps of which make an impact on our world today, even before it arrives in the eschatological sense.

What did Jesus mean when he said God's Kingdom was "near?" Albert Schweitzer thought Jesus was mistaken. Others have thought the same.

What Jesus actually meant is that he was the King of this coming Kingdom, and his presence was the initial step in preparing for the eschatological Kingdom to come.

If Jesus was near in proximity to his people, being present with them on earth, then in a sense the Kingdom itself, spiritually, was near them. And he made another "hour" click off the clock in preparation for his final Coming, since his earthly work prepared the way for it to come.

The Gospel is an advance warning, providing the warning of an almost imminent event. In fact, Christ's 1st Coming means that we already have a choice to make, once we've heard that message. It in that sense makes the coming of the Kingdom near to every one of us.

The main point here is that since Jesus brought the Kingdom "near" in his 1st Coming, his work of redemption has brought his Spirit near to all of us when the Gospel is preached to us as an advance warning. When he came he brought his Spirit with him. And when he left, he left his Spirit with the Church. Jesus in that sense remains "near" to us. And it renders his judgment "near" to all of us.

We are all "near" the judgment. We have an immediate need to respond to the message and to deliver the message. That's what we should be doing.

Randy,


God's judgment is indeed very near to all of us here on earth right now. When we die, we are immediately judged, and then we will go to the place that has been prepared for us to await the second coming of Jesus Christ and his eschatological kingdom, which will be at the end of time. Hebrews 9:27, Acts 1:25, Hebrews 9:28

 

[RandyPNW]

Randy,


God's judgment is indeed very near to all of us here on earth right now. When we die, we are immediately judged, and then we will go to the place that has been prepared for us to await the second coming of Jesus Christ and his eschatological kingdom, which will be at the end of time. Hebrews 9:27, Acts 1:25, Hebrews 9:28

Yes Jan, I had tried to somewhat hint at that. The Kingdom is near in the relative sense, because chronologically, it is next on the agenda. But it is equally near because since the Kingdom is next in the sequence, what we do today has immediate need for attention. Not only could we die but what we are doing is having either an eternal positive effect, or it is an utter waste of time we may forever regret.